Doll eye and lash



June 13, 1939 w LORENZ ET A I 2,161,876

DOLL EYE AND LASH Filed Feb. 4, 1936 Fi -4L INVENTORS ///a/r1 Lorenz BY[azurua W Parka-4- 1 M ATTORN EYs Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE DOLL EYE AND LASH Application February 4, 1936, Serial No.62,239

11 Claims.

This invention relates to eyes for dolls, mannikins, and other figuretoys.

The primary object of our invention is to generally improve doll eyes.The invention has for a more specific object the construction of anartificial eye comprising a convex outer shell with an iris opening, anda solid or hollow hemispherical member mounted within said shell andhaving an iris and pupil simulation or less mounted thereon and exposedthrough the aforesaid iris opening.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision ofeyelashes and a convenient arrangement for securely clamping the same inplace. Further objects of the invention center about the provision oflocking means for holding the shell and the member tightly together inproper registry.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and other objects which willhereinafter appear, our invention consists in the eye elements, andtheir relation one to the other, as hereinafter are more particularlydescribed in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims.The specification is accompanied by a drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of an artificial eye constructedaccording to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of Fig. 1 seen as though looking inthe direction of the arrows 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View taken on the line 5-5of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a slightly modifiedarrangement;

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view of the device illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating astill further modified form 45 of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view looking in the direction of thearrows Iii-l0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 3 but showing a stillfurther embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 12 is a rear elevational View of the construction shown in Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 6thereof, the artificial 55 eye, according to the present invention,comprises a convex shell Ill having an opening ll suitably dimensionedto expose an iris and pupil element or lens l2. The shell is preferablythough not necessarily made of sheet metal drawn to the desired shape, ahemispherical shape be- 5 ing most suitable. The lens 12 is mounted uponor embedded in a solid approximately hemispherical member l3. Thismember l3 may be molded 1 of any desired moldable material and is givena configuration and dimension suitable to be received within the shellI0. Glass may be used for the inner member l3, but in this form of theinvention it is not essential that the member be transparent, and it istherefore not necessary to use glass. The lens I2 need not be describedin detail other than to say that it preferably includes a peripheral oriris portion which is colored, and a dark or black center portion H2which simulates the pupil of the eye. The iris and pupil element l2mounted on the inner member 13, is preferably an insert, as shown,because then the element may be given depth and'may be shaped, ifdesired, to act as a lens, all in accordance with known or conventionalpractice. However, it will be understood that iris and pupil simulationsmay, if desired, be merely painted or printed on the outer surface ofinner member l3. When an insert is used, as is here the case, the insertis preferably slightly larger in diameter than the iris opening I l inthe outer shell, thus guarding effectively against any possibility ofescape of the lens through the iris opening.

The eye member is preferably oscillatably mounted in back of the eyeopening in a doll head, and for this purpose may be mounted on asuitable cross connection, in accordance with known conventionalpractice. In the present case We have merely indicated a strap I [0formed integrally with and bent sidewardly from the rear edge of shelll0. Other forms of connection to the shell may also be used.

The eye member is preferably provided with eyelashes l4, these eyelashesbeing held in place by having their inner or rear ends clamped be- 45tween the outer shell l0 and the inner member l3. When eyelashes areused, the outer shell I0 is preferably slit, as is indicated at 4 inFigs. 1 and 2, the slits H4 extending to either side of andcommunicating with the iris opening 504 II. The eyelashes [4 arepreferably individual hairs or strands the inner ends of which areattached to a longitudinal foundation or base strip I5, in accordancewith customary practice.

The base strip [5 is inserted through slits H4 55:

and is clamped or locked between the outer shell and the inner member,as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. 7

'It will be understood that slits H4 are arranged on a curved lineshaped to conform to the upper edge of the eye opening behind which theeye is to be used. The surface of shell I0 above the lash is painted orappropriately colored to simulate an eyelid. The lower portion of theouter shell is colored white to simulate the eyeball portion of the eye.tion I! of the shell is, of course, carried sidewardly beyond the endsof the slit to the edge of the shell, as is indicated by'the colordivision line I I5, thus difierentiating from the white or eyeballportion 16. The eyelashes I 4 appear to be arranged at the edge of thelid portion IT.

The outer shell and inner member are held in assembled relation by akey, here exemplified by a locking strip l9 disposed in back of theinner member and passing through the shell. In order to; hold the innermember in proper orientation withrespect'to, the shell, the inner memberispreferably provided with a vertical groove 20 in which the strip-|9-is received, as is best shown inv Fig. 5.- The ends of strip I9 passthrough openings'ZI' at. the-top and, bottom of the shelLtheseshellmaybe increased by wedg ing the parts to. gether. Morespecifically,a small opening 23 is provi'dedat' oneedge of thefouter shell I0 and isaligned with a transverse groove 24 disposed on the hacker flat sideofthe innermember; The

grooves and 24 preferably'cr'oss or commun-F fllI- 7,

shell lllformed wit'h angiris opening H for expos-' openings beingbest'shown in Fig. 4. The ends 7 221 of the strip [9 may be bent atright angles in order to anchor the strip in place.

It will be understood that to assemble the eye, the eyelash is firstinserted in place in the outer shell, whereupon the inner member isinserted through the back of the shell and is then looked in 1' place by"the holding strip 1 91 disposed through the openings 2| and the groove20. The 'parts are so.

dimensioned as to exert an adequate holding pressure onfthefbase of theeyelash. It is not neces- 1sary.to..apply adhesive but if preferred aslight 40 touch'of adhesive may be applied to the base of the lash.before the'sliell';

'InFigs; 7 and 8 ai modified form of the inven tion has been disclosedwhich'is similar to that alreadyfie'scribed except for the fact that thepressureibetween the inner member and the outer cate, asis best shown inFig. 8. A wedge 2511s drivengalong groove 24 beneath strip I9, therebyincreasing the-tension of the holding strip on' e wedge 25 preferablytheinner member. I I takes the form of a pointed pin or strip.

In- Fi'gs; -9 and 10; another modification of the invention isdisclosed. This form of the invention is like that first des'jcribedjncomprising an outer ing a lens or eye element [2, this lens beingmounted on an inner -member 13 carried within the outershellll o.Eyelashes [4 are provided and clamped in place between the inner memberand outer shell, as previously described.

In the present case, however, theinner member l3 is providedwithupwardly and downwardly directed locking'pins or trunnions 26, whilethe outer shell I0 is provided with mating or receptive bayonet'slots'21. Thearrangement is such that the parts maybe assembled ordisassembled, the latter by first giving a slight rotation to the innermember, and then moving the same rearwardly out of the shell. Theinnermember is-preferably The flesh-colored or lid p0r-' inserting the innermember in provided with several openings 28 adapted to re ceive aspanner wrench or like tool to facilitate.

' that we here illustrate the use of a hollow transparent inner memberhaving the iris and pupil V simulations disposed inside instead ofoutside the inner member.

Specifically in the present case theinner member I3 is made oftransparent glass or like material, and is provided with a hollow 30 onits rear side, so that the inner member as well as the outer member is ashell. The eye element or lens I2 is disposed inside member l3 andsecured in place in any desired mannenas by the use of a. transparentcement. If desired, the iris and pupil simulations may be merely paintedon the inside of member I3. In either case theeye has added depth byreason of the thickness of the transparent inner member behind which theiris and pupil: simulation is disposed.

. In the present case the wedge is preferably made longer and stouterthan that shown in Fig. 8; because it must span thehollow 3!] at theback of the inner member, as is clearly shown by the strip 25 inFig. 12.The wedge 25' functions, as

before; to increase the pressure exerted by strip l9 against the innermember.

It will be understood that the sheet metal em-] thinned during thestamping or drawing operation, or if desired, as a separate operation.In-

lieu. of tlnnning the "edge of the metal, it is also possible to provideI the inner member when painted, or the lens when a lens is used, withan outwardly projecting iris portion which fits through the irisopeni-ng'and comes flush-with the outside of the sheet metal, a slightspace being left between the top edge of the pro'jec I tionand the topedge of the iris opening to accommodate the outwardly.projectingeyelashes.

'It is believed that the mode of constructing as Well as the manyadvantages of our improved doll eye, will be apparent from the foregoingdetailed description thereof. It will also be apparent that While wehave shown and described our invention in several preferred forms, many'changes and modifications may be made in the structuresdisclosedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention defined in thefollowing claims.

We claim: v 1. A doll eye comprising a convex approximatelyhemispherical metallic shell formed with V a sideward projection formounting the eye, said shell having an iris opening therein, anapproximately hemispherical inner member inserted in. said shellandhaving a pupil and'iris simulation exposed through said iris opening,and means for fixedly locking the inner member withinthe outer shell.

colored to simulate eyeball and eyelid portions, said shell having anopening therein which is limited in dimension to the size of the irisand an eyelash slit extending sidewardly on opposite V -2. A doll eyecomprising a convex metallic shell sides of the top of the iris openingand dividing the differently colored eyeball and eyelid portions of theshell, an inner member inserted in said shell and having a pupil andiris simulation exposed through said iris opening, an eyelash projectingthrough the aforesaid eyelash slit and having its foundation turnedupwardly and clamped between the inner member and the outer shell, andmeans locking the inner member tightly in engagement with the outershell.

3. A doll eye comprising a convex approximately hemispherical metallicshell formed with a sideward projection for mounting the eye, said shellhaving an iris opening therein and an eyelash slit extending sidewardlyon opposite sides of the top of the iris opening, an approximatelyhemispherical inner member inserted in said shell and having a pupil andiris simulation exposed through said iris opening, an eyelash projectingthrough the aforesaid eyelash slit and having its foundation turnedupwardly and clamped between the inner member and the outer shell, andmeans locking the inner member tightly in engagement with the outershell.

4. A doll eye comprising a convex metallic shell, said shell having anopening therein which is limited in dimension to the size of the irisand an eyelash slit extending sidewardly on opposite sides of the top ofthe iris opening, an inner member inserted in said shell, a lensincluding a pupil and iris simulation inserted in and carried by saidinner member, said lens being exposed through said iris opening, aneyelash projecting through the aforesaid eyelash slit and having itsfoundation turned upwardly and clamped between the inner member and theouter shell, and means locking the inner member tightly in engagementwith the outer shell.

5. An artificial eye for dolls, mannikins, and other figure toys,comprising a shell having a main front opening for exposing an interioreye element and having additional openings, a solid member within saidshell and having an eye element exposed through said front opening,eyelashes for said element clamped at their rear ends between said shelland member, and means for holding said member in the shell comprising astrip engaging through a groove in the member and through the additionalopenings in the shell.

6. An artificial eye for dolls, mannkins, and other figure toys,comprising a hemispherical shell having a main front opening forexposing an interior eye element and having additional openings, ahemispherical member within said shell and having an eye element exposedthrough said front opening, eyelashes for said element clamped at theirrear ends between said hemispherical shell and hemispherical member, andmeans for holding said hemispherical member in the'shell comprising astrip engaging through a groove in the hemispherical member and throughthe additional openings in the shell, said hemispherical member beingprovided with representations of an iris and pupil.

7. An artificial eye for dolls, mannikins, and other figure toys,comprising a hemispherical shell having a main front opening forexposing an interior eye element and having additional top and bottomopenings, a hemispherical member within said shell and having an eyeelement exposed through said front opening, eyelashes for said elementclamped at their rear ends between said hemispherical shell andhemispherical member, and means for holding said hemispherical member inthe shell comprising a strip engaging through a groove in thehemispherical member and through the additional openings in the shell,said groove in the hemispherical member being arranged upon the fiatside of the member and extending vertically.

8. An artificial eye for dolls, mannikins, and other figure toys,comprising a shell having a main front opening for exposing an interioreye element and having additional openings, a member within said shelland having an eye element exposed through said front opening, eyelashesfor said element clamped at their rear ends between said shell andmember, and means for holding said member in the shell comprising astrip engaging through a groove in the member and through the additionalopenings in the shell, a transverse groove arranged in said membercrossing the aforesaid groove, and a wedging element in said transversegroove wedged beneath said strip.

9. An artificial eye for dolls, mannikins, and other figure toys,comprising a shell having a main front opening for exposing an interioreye element and having additional openings, a member within saidshelland having an eye element exposed through said front opening, eyelashesfor said element clamped at their rear ends between said shell andmember, and means for holding said member in the shell comprising astrip engaging through a groove in the hemispherical member and throughthe additional openings in the shell, said member being transparent, andsaid eye element being arranged within the surface of said member.

10. A doll eye comprising a convex approximately hemispherical metallicshell made of thin sheet metal, said shell having an iris openingtherethrough, a special insert larger than said iris opening disposedwithin the shell immediately back of said iris opening, said inserthaving pupil and iris simulations, and means to help hold the insert inplace in the shell, said means including a strip of metal the ends ofwhich pass through diametrically opposed openings in the outer shell andthe middle of which bears forwardly to help hold the insert in placewithin the shell.

11. A doll eye comprising a convex approximately hemispherical metallicshell made of thin sheet metal, said shell having an iris openingtherethrough, an insert larger than the iris opening disposedimmediately in back of the iris opening, said insert having pupil andiris simulations, a solid molded approximately hemispherical membersecured to said shell in a suitable position in back of the aforesaidinsert, and means to help hold the insert in place in the shell, saidmeans including a strip of metal the ends of

